DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Sunday, two pilots from the U.S. Navy encountered a harrowing experience in the Red Sea when their aircraft was lost in what officials are describing as a “friendly fire” incident. This event marks one of the most severe moments in over a year of U.S. military actions against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Although both pilots managed to eject from the damaged aircraft and were subsequently rescued, one sustained minor injuries. This episode highlights the growing dangers present in the Red Sea, where ongoing assaults on commercial shipping by the Iran-aligned Houthi faction persist, despite the presence of U.S. and European military coalitions monitoring the area.
At the time of the incident, the U.S. military was actively conducting airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. However, specifics regarding their mission remain undisclosed, as Central Command did not provide further details or respond to inquiries promptly.
The aircraft involved, a F/A-18 and part of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, had just taken off from the carrier’s deck. Previously, on December 15, it had been confirmed that the Truman had arrived in the Middle East, though there was no immediate clarification regarding its location in the Red Sea until this recent incident.
According to Central Command, the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser belonging to the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly opened fire and struck the F/A-18. The incident raises questions about how a ship could confuse a friendly aircraft with an enemy target, given that vessels within a carrier group typically maintain communication through radar and radio channels.
It should be noted that prior to the incident, U.S. navy ships and aircraft had engaged and shot down several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels, indicating the high-pressure environment they were operating in. Sailors have faced dire situations in the past with very limited time to respond to threats.
Since the Truman’s deployment, the U.S. military has intensified its airstrike campaign against the Houthis and their missile activities directed towards the Red Sea and surrounding regions. Nevertheless, the presence of American naval forces could stimulate renewed aggression from the Houthis, reminiscent of the intense conflict the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower faced earlier this year—a deployment characterized by the Navy as one of its most significant combat operations since World War II.
On the night leading up to the incident, U.S. warplanes executed airstrikes in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which the Houthis have controlled since 2014. Central Command identified these strikes as targeting both a missile storage area and a command-and-control facility, although further details were not provided.
Houthi-affiliated media reported on the strikes in Sanaa and around the port city of Hodeida, though they did not specify any casualties or damage caused. The attacks appeared to be concentrated on a mountainside known for housing military installations. Following the incidents, the Houthis confirmed the loss of their aircraft in the Red Sea.
Since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have launched missile and drone strikes against roughly 100 merchant vessels. The escalation followed a surprise attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250 others.
Health officials in Gaza report that Israel’s ongoing offensive has claimed the lives of over 45,000 Palestinians, though the figures do not distinctly categorize between combatants and civilians. The Houthis have succeeded in capturing one vessel and sinking two during their operations, which have also led to the deaths of four sailors. Other attempted strikes using missiles and drones have either been intercepted or failed to reach their intended targets, which have at times included Western military ships.
The Houthi rebels assert that their attacks are directed at vessels associated with the United States, the United Kingdom, or Israel, aiming to pressure an end to the ongoing military actions against Hamas in Gaza. Nevertheless, many vessels targeted in these operations have had limited or no connections to the conflict, some even being en route to Iran. Furthermore, the Houthis have escalated assaults directly against Israel using drones and missiles, prompting retaliatory strikes from the Israeli military.